whats the diff between made in usa/japan or mexico?

[TRichardsbass]

Generally there is little difference between the quality of MIJ and MIA, considering that Mr. Deming taught the Japanese QC after WWII and now all American companies use his QC principles.

Now, in reality, the MIA is made in a factory owned and operated by Fender. All the other factories are contract, so the QC will be different and also the parts sources vary depending on where they can get them the cheapest. So, Fender made in Mexico is not from a Fender plant, but one licensed by Fender. They might check on the overall production facility once a year.

If you wonder about QC, just remember the Mattel fiasco a year ago with children's toys and lead paint. The Mattel guys contracted for toys with no lead, the plant said no lead but in fact purchased lead based paints. So you have no idea what you really get from foreign made construction.

That is not to say that other countries make bad things. I worked in tennis racquet production for a decade. Just about every tennis racquet on the planet comes from China, including the high end ones. Mostly because the environmental requirements to work with some of the materials here make them cost prohibitive. It may not be right, but China doesn't really have environmental laws yet, so everything is much cheaper.

Also, typically the high end gear, including Fender, is made by Americans in custom shops. So there is a level of pride that the luthier takes on that is unique to the US. Other countries, maybe Germany and the UK the exceptions, look at manufacturing as a mass market commodity. Pride in workmanship doesn't matter as much as it does here.

My two cents...

 

[Snipper!]

I've liked everything I've ever bought from Japan.....

 

[dave_bass5]

After going through 3 poorly made MIA's this month im now expecting a Highway-one, but still feel my Squier is better put together than the MIA's.
If Fender USA cant even get the pup placement or routing right whats the point in paying so much money for a playable bass.
It all started with a MIM 70's Jazz that had a high fret and a chunky (for me) neck. I figured if i get a MIA then thats going to be perfect. How silly of me. It seems like Fender didnt pay the electricity bill that week and had to make them in the dark.
Plus each bass had at least 3 or more frets with small gaps under them, where filler hadnt been applied properly. Ive never owned another bass that had even one.

When my Squeir CV Jazz arrived a few months ago i got it as a back up and wasnt going to bother with checking it over, as long as it played well that was fine.
Ive since compared it to the 3 MIA's and while they use better components they certainly aren't £600 better, and in fact the CV Jazz had a better routing and the pups lined up like they should.

Im hoping the HW-one will be ok but if its got small faults then ill not worry too much. Its a bass thats going to look pretty road worn soon anyway (i used to have a HW1 Jazz) and at £400 less than the MIA ill not worry too much about re sale.